The river press., 1887-07-27
A CITY OF DESTINY.

In our last issue the attempt was made
To show that Fort Benton is the nat
11ral trading point in this whole north
western region, and that through the fur
and placer periods it was the center OF
trade and business-the most important
point in the upper Missouri country or IN
the whole Of Montana. In this connection
it might be stated that during the years
of greatest activity in the fur business.
scores Of trading posts were established IN
this region, some of them on the Missouri
river and others at important points on
tributary streams and today Fort Ben
ton is the only town Of consequence at any
of these points to survive the extinction
Of the buffalo and other game. 1t IS an
other illustration of the law Of survival OF
the fittest."
In 1883 the Northern Pacific was com
pleted to Helena, and to the north OF us
the Canadian Pacific had forged its way
through the prairie wilderness to the
Rocky mountains. These roads are near
" the same distance from Fort Benton,
and they cut off an immense section OF
country that before that time had been
tributary to this city in a greater or Less
DEGREE About the same time, or little
earlier, the buffalo disappeared from the
face of the earth" in manner approach
ING the mysterious, and the lucrative trade
| in robes thus suddenly came to an end.
| But meantime other important changes
we're going on. The domestic herds and
flocks we're fast taking the place of the
buffalo and deer, and thrifty settlers loca-
ted il the valleys to engage in farming
combined with stock growing. 1t the rail-
roads on either side Of us cut off immense
tributary territory, they helped to people
and to some extent develop what remain
ed. and thus compensation was given and
Fort Benton continued to be the trade
center and chief supply point OF northern
Montana, in which section a gradual
growth in population and wealth was 60
ing forward Having the Missouri river
as an artery of commerce, upon which one
or more lines Of boats we're constant
" maintained during the season,
our merchants were enabled to
meet the competition of the rail
road points and in some particulars had
the advantage of them. A few figures
from the assessment rolls will show how
advancement was made during this per-
iod. We will take Choteau county, Of
which Fort Benton is the seat Of govern
ment, to illustrate the case, although por-
tions of other counties are and have been
tributary to the river metropolis. In 1877
the assessed valuation Of Choteau county
was only little over half a million dol
lars. and this wealth for the most part was
confined to the town of Fort Benton. Dur
ing this year sheep for the first time were
listed in Choteau county, the number be-
ING 1000 head and the value only Sl,500.
The cattle industry had little better
start. but was in its infancy. In 1851 the
assessed valuation of this county had IN
creased to million and half dollars and
in 1887, notwithstanding the severe stock
losses of last winter, it will not be less
than 100000. In 1880 the sheep IN
dustry in this county really had its be
ginning. AS showing how this branch OF
the stock business has grown since that
time we quote the following extract from
the statement Of Mr.. L. w. Peck, secreta-
ry of the Montana Wool Growers associa-
tion, made at the banquet recently given
bv the Fort Benton Board of Trade to the
wool growers of northern Montana: MIR.
Peck stated that he would confine his re-
marks principally to the business OF the
country tributary to Benton, or what is
known as northern Montana, and would
simply state few facts. From this sec
tion, after hard winter, there would be
marketed the heeces of 100000 sheep, ag-
gregating 2.225,00O pounds. There will al
SO be turned out 10000 wethers for ship
ment and sale, as well as 10000 pounds OF
pelts, which latter represents the serious
loss of the past severe winter, the worst
ever known IN Montana. Upon the open
ing of the Milk River reservation the ter
ritory tributary to Fort Benton will be
doubled, and 100000 pounds Of wool and
$4,000 wethers will be shipped from this
point. He considered that this would be
fair estimate of the capacity Of the
ranges in this immediate section for some
years to come" Last year l,250,OO0
pounds of wool we're shipped by the Mis-
souri, river from Fort Benton and this sea-
son the shipments will reach 100000
pounds, which represents in cash about
s5Oo,0oo, the greater portion Of which will
be left with our merchants for supplies
necessary to carry on the business until
the next "harvest time" The growth of
the cattle business has been equally rapid.
In 1880 there were but a few small herds